"Yes young Jimmothy! you may hold me now! walk around with me so that all assembled here can witness the markings on my blade will you?" says Soldier's Glory with a humorous fatherly tone.
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"Mister Claremguard, do you have further evidence or witnesses to call forth, before I yield the floor to Peers of the Realm?"
"While I would think that Your Royal Highness, as well as the Peers of the Realm, now have more evidence than one should likely need in order to reach a just conclusion with regard to the honor due to House Alcasti on account of the grand deeds of Honaria Alcasti, I am nevertheless prepared to continue." Claremguard replies with deference. "The 'evidence' of the notable accomplishments of Honaria Alcasti is in abundance, though only a mere portion of that which is known has been set forth this day and I, being not a man of half-measures, would feel remiss if I were to abandon my advocacy now, uncertain as I am that this esteemed body has arrived at the right conclusion."
"Indeed, there are records recovered from the homestead of Remaio's cousin, Vereena, that provide detailed information about Honaria's brilliant tactics, skilled command, and battle prowess in service of Taldor during the Even-Tongued Conquest in addition to a letter scribed in the hand of Countess Honaria Alcasti, herself." continues the paladin. "My sharp-eyed companion, Cillian, is prepared to testify as to 'shrine' to Honaria Alcasti that we uncovered at the homestead as well as to the kobold threat we vanquished there."
"And, if that not be sufficient evidence in support of the restoration of House Alcasti to its rightful place, then we are prepared also to provide more evidence still in the form of medals, commendations, and honors bestowed on Honaria Alcasti in life and buried with her in death." declares Claremguard. "This, too, I am prepared to couple with the testimony of an expert, who has examined the tomb of Honaria Alcasti, where her blessed body lay and which I am sad to say has not been permitted to rest as peacefully as is proper for one such as herself. This expert, a man sworn and devoted in service foremost to the Mistress of the Grave, is more than qualified to testify as an expert in the matters of burial, honoring of the dead, and the evils of desecration of such sacred places that he did therein see. Such is the cleric of Pharasma, Mallycorn Tavee."
"Yet, this wealth of evidence and the volumes that it broadcasts speaks to the character of Honaria Alcasti and, by virtue or her grace and association, the honor due to the house that bears her name." Claremguard continues. "Yet, it does not necessarily speak as to the character of all who can be found in said house. For, it is known that though the roots of the oldest, and most stately of trees, may be healthy and run deep, though its strong branches may stretch prominently toward the sky, though its fruit may be lush, delicious, and abundant, a worm may yet be found to dwell within a portion of a single apple."
The paladin pauses for a moment, to allow the weight of his words to sink in. "Thus, it is that I, a man of honor and truth, feel compelled to bring to light all that I have heard and seen pertaining to the matters of House Alcasti. And, thus, the final witness I suggest you give ear to--though his own, personal testimony may be colored by bias of his own--is that of Lord Solomon Menander. Hear him out, then weigh his words against his own preferences and ambitions as well as what you have learned of Remaio Alcasti and the House that bears his name. Finally, ask the gods for wisdom and discernment before reaching your decision."
Solmon rises slowly, a defiant and devious smile on his lips.
"As Mister Brightsword just so eloquently put it, my input in this specific application for nobility, and the affairs of all other nobles here assembled, for that matter," adds Solmon, his stare pinpointing several choice nobles and then lingering in the Princess' direction for three interminably long seconds, "could be interpreted as 'colored by bias of my own'. This, in some circles, would perhaps render such testimony as inadmissible, wouldn't you say, Your Highness?"
Solmon sits back down. The Princess appears to be fuming for a few seconds, but composes herself quickly, "Very well, Lord Menander. If you feel you have no new evidence to bring forward it is completely within your rights to abstain from serving as a witness."
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"If the Lord Menander wishes now not to proffer evidence, then his mind, one would logically presume, has been made to support the bid of Remeio Alcasti has been made due the dearth of evidence proferred to contrary." notes Claremguard.
He now go the Princess and asks, "As I was saying before Lord Menander rose to his feet only to announce little more than a desire to return to a seated position, I am prepared to offer more evidence and that which is quite compelling, if it pleases Her Majesty for me to do so?"
The Princess nods. "Please, Mister Claremguard. Continue."
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Meanwhile, out of sight with the sword....
"Now Mister Black Knight, I challenge you to a duel with my trusty one-handed longsword." Then to Katachu and his imagined audience Jimmothy makes a quick aside "Actually, it is a hand-and-a-half sword, but I'm not telling him that."
He stares down his opponent a tin bucket with a mop sticking out of it and begins a stage swordsman's kata swinging the sword through the air about him. "Ho! Ha ha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!" **Sproing!** "Hey!"
Katachu sighs and looks away from his partner.
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The Princess nods. "Please, Mister Claremguard. Continue."
"As you wish, Your Highness." Claremguard responds with a bow. "I hereby call forth my companion, Cillian Subtiliter, a man renowned for his investigative abilities and accurate conclusions to inform all assembled as to the dispatching of kobolds and that which was found among the contents of the residence of Remaio's cousin, Vereena--may she now rest in peace."
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The investigator step up, clearly nervous about addressing the gathered assembly. He clears his throat a few times before beginning. "Your Highness, gathered dignitaries. Thank you for affording this time to share our findings."
"Found isolated in the farming villages of the Carpenden Plains, was the homestead of Vereena Alcasti, a relative of the applicant and bound with him by blood to Countess Honaria Alcasti herself. Whilst there, we recovered letters and journals detailing Madam Honaria's experiences and exploits as she led a battalion in the Even-Tongied Conquest. These records go on to provide detailed information about Honaria’s leadership, depicting her as a skillful leader with a brilliant command of tactics, and also reference her indefatigable drive to achieve victory even in the face of dire challenges, such as the repeated inability to receive sufficient resources during some of her campaigns."
The investigator pauses to sip some water. "Artwork discovered in the residence also depicts one of Honaria's greatest accomplishments, the defeat of a red dragon. Paintings and tapestries alike recount her armored form as she stands over the vanquished drake. Some of the paintings depicts the Alcasti, and the resemblence to Remaio is uncanny to say the least."
"There can be little doubt that the efforts and sacrifice of the Alcasti family from generations ago have helped Andoran and her people. A legacy that has lasted to this very day."
Several nobles nod in agreement upon hearing the latest from Claremguard and Cillian. Some even break into an applause. One our two even dare standing up and reaching to Remaio to pat him on the shoulder. All seem to be a formality at this point. The Princess raise her head to bring the room back to order, and announces, "I believe we are nearing the end of these proceedings, wouldn't you say Mister Claremguard? do you have anything to add at this point before I retire to my chambers to deliberate with my advisors?"
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The Princess raise her head to bring the room back to order, and announces, "I believe we are nearing the end of these proceedings, wouldn't you say Mister Claremguard? do you have anything to add at this point before I retire to my chambers to deliberate with my advisors?"
"There is, Your Highness, one more body of evidence that I wish to be considered and it may be the most telling yet, for it pertains not only to one house of note, but to two." Claremguard declares. "To expound on such matters, including what we found within the final resting place of Honaria Alcasti, is a fellow Pathfinder, who is not only skilled in investigative matters of which he can report, but is also a cleric of Pharasma and, as such, has been specially trained in matters pertaining to burial and the placement of honors accompanying such, as well as matters of desecration."
The paladin gestures to the cleric. "Your Majesty, I call forth Mallycorn Tavee."
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As a priest of Pharasma, I'm more used to speak for the dead than to the living. But we are here to speak about the life, high deeds and times of the deceased Honoria Alcasti.
A pause.
We found the final resting place of Honoria, and after I prayed to my goddess before we entered the tomb, disturbing its peace. We were in the right mausoleum, as we found the Alcasti's family symbol, a Pegasus crest, all over the place. But someone went there before us: statues were smashed into rubble. No recent traces were found in the dust. Alas, we had to fight the last guardians of the tomb, an animated and damaged statue of a dog and animated statue's hands, which I mistook for undead crawling hands. We defeated these. After that, we entered the room where the mortal remains of Honoria Alcasti were laid to rest, with all due deference.
Another pause.
But it wasn't all we found out. On the coffin, a human severed head, and a broken apparatus, in the form of an owl. The mechanical own, nearly all broken, informed us the head was from its late master, one Italice Cenabri, who was killed by Siagra Tetranella. The owl, itself named Amantius, told us the story: Tetranella was a devout follower of Honoria Alcasti, and she put the blame of her sad death on Italice Cenabri, a powerful adviser of Honoria, and finally murdered her. Amntius told us that Tetranella entered the tomb, centuries ago, fought its guardians and put the head of Italice Cenabri on the coffin. The mechanical owl followed her, and tried to reason her, only to get smashed too by the grieving Tetranella. In Amantius own words Honoria wasn't to be blamed for all that happened after her death, she wouldn't have accepted Italice's murder. As a final request, one I was bound to oblige, the owl asked us to bring back both itself and the severed head to Italice own family.
Mallycorn looks at the noble assembled
Each life is a story of triumphs and defeats, of trusts and betrayals, of joys and tears. People do terrible things for love, anger, greed, grief, or just plain stupidity. These were the last pieces of the puzzle we built, about the life, trials, great deeds and times of Honoria Alcasti. May her name not been forgotten for a few more centuries. Will her descendant, Amario, be up to her name? This is not even for you to tell, only Pharasma know his Fate: you can only provided him with the opportunity, and whatever happens after that is his own responsability. He has done whatever he could to restore her past glory. It could be seen as hard work, but it's only the beginning of the true hard work. Now he must live up to the standard of Honoria Alcasti, and bring no shame to her name.
My words are said. I spoke with honesty, telling you everything I knew, and only the things I knew for certain. May Pharasma guide you.
The Princess nods, and then yields the floor to Theon Cenabri, who makes an emotional and thankful speech for the Pathfinder Society's efforts in this case, one, he says, that will reverberate for generations in the estates of House Cenabri.
Soon after his supporting comments, Lady Gloriana Morilla, Father Basri and Inka Heldotor add their words of support towards the Pathfinders' efforts and recognize them as qualified experts in this matter.
The Princess retires to her antechamber for deliberations with her barristers. The Court rises as she departs with her guards, followed by her advisors.
The crowd returns to the banquet area to mingle for approximately one more hour, after which the trumpets begin their telltale blaring once more. After all nobles are back into their Senate seats, the Princess enters the room in her full regalia, a gleaming sword in hand that puts to shame anything you've ever seen in your life.
She speaks. "Mister Claremguard, please step forward with your fellow agents. Mallycorn Tavee; Stavarg Titanshade; Cillian Subtiliter; and of course, you as well, Master Jimmothy Gettum: in recognition of your services to Taldor, you are now made full citizens of Taldor. As subjects of the Primogen Crown, I now command you to step forward and kneel."
She takes a few steps into the room towards the Pathfinders, and addresses the crowd. "After weighing the evidence and testimony brought before Senate, I have decided to redeem the Alcasti name and restore the status of Honaria's descendants in Taldan society.
She takes a few steps down towards the heroes. Starting with Claremguard, the monarch lays the side of the sword's blade onto his right shoulder, then raises the sword gently just up over the his head and places it on his left shoulder. "After your considerable assistance, House Alcasti, House Cenabri and countless others both in Taldor and abroad are now in your debt. Rise now, as Sir Brightsword, Knight of Taldor." She repeats the ceremony for each hero. After the ceremony, a herald announces the heroes once more, loud and clear this time, to the crowd!
"Three cheers for the five new Knights of Taldor!
Sir Claremguard Brightsword of Taldor!
Sir Mallycorn Tavee of Taldor!
Sir Stavarg Titanshade of Taldor!
Sir Cillian Subtiliter of Taldor!
Sir Jimmothy Gettum of Taldor!"
Mallycorn Tavee
Jimmothy Gettum
Claremguard the Brightsword
Stavarg Titanshade
Cillian Subtiliter